A central puzzle in jurisprudence has been the role of custom in law. Custom is simply the practices and usages of distinctive communities. But are such customs legally binding? Can custom be law, even before it is recognized by authoritative legislation or precedent? And, assuming that custom is a source of law, what are its constituent elements? Is proof of a consistent and long-standing practice sufficient, or must there be an extra ingredient - that the usage is pursued out of a sense ...

As our society becomes more global, international law is taking on an increasingly significant role, not only in world politics but also in the affairs of a striking array of individuals, enterprises, and institutions. In this comprehensive study, David J. Bederman focuses on international law as a current, practical means of regulating and influencing international behavior. He shows it to be a system unique in its nature—nonterritorial but secular, cosmopolitan, and traditional. Part int...

Today's archaeologists and law practitioners must have an increased awareness of legal issues pertaining to historic preservation and cultural resource management (CRM). Archaeological sites and finds are non-renewable resources inciting numerous legal debates based upon claims of legitimacy and ownership. In this edited volume of original articles, law professionals and legal scholars offer their perspectives on current debates for the heritage community, giving multiple viewpoints and in...